UK employees running out of patience with gender pay gap

Over two-thirds (68%) of UK workers would consider looking for another job if there was an unfair gender pay gap at their company, increasing to 79% of women

Nearly a quarter (23%) of UK workers believe that gender pay gap reporting is needed in their organisation, rising to 26% of Millennials

The second gender pay gap reporting deadline is fast approaching, scheduled for the 30th March for public-sector organisations and 4th April for private companies

London, UK – 27th March 2019 – With the second gender pay gap reporting deadline fast approaching, nearly a quarter of UK employees (23%) believe that reporting should be introduced in their organisation. Introduced in the UK in 2018, the gender gap reporting requires large companies to report on their gender pay gaps annually, based on a 'snapshot date' of 31 March for public sector organisations, or 5 April for private and voluntary sector employers.

The study also reveals that employee tolerance of the pay gap between men and women is wearing thin, with over two-thirds of employees (68%) saying they would consider looking for another job if they found out there was an unfair gender pay gap at their organisation.

The ADP Workforce View in Europe 2019 surveyed over 10,000 employees in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, delving into how employees feel about current issues in the workplace and the future of work. Unequal pay has been in the spotlight over the last few years and remains a serious problem across the continent, with women paid on average 16% less than men.

Of the four generations in the workplace, the findings show that Millennials feel the most strongly about the gender pay gap. Over a third (26%) of those aged 16-34 believe that gender pay gap reporting is necessary in their organisation, while over three quarters (81%) say they would consider leaving for another job if they found out their employer was paying men and women unequally.

The prospect of gender pay gap reporting is most popular amongst employees in Spain (34%), Switzerland (34%) and Italy (30%), while in contrast, just 11% of those in the Netherlands agree. This is despite the country dropping 16 places in the 2017 global gender equality rankings (World Economic Forum).

Meanwhile, Italian workers are most likely to consider looking for another job if they discovered there was an unfair pay gap at their company (73%), followed by British and Spanish workers (68%). At the other end of the scale, employees in France are the least likely to consider making a move (54%).

Jeff Phipps, Managing Director at ADP UK, commented: “The Workforce View report shows that workers’ attitude towards inequality is changing, especially when it comes to the gender pay gap. Employees are prepared to vote with their feet, risking a severe engagement, performance and reputational issues for the companies concerned.

Despite widespread calls for change, the gender pay gap appears deeply ingrained in workplaces in the UK, and the best way to move the needle is to approach it from a social, political and organisational perspective. Communities, the government and companies need to work together to redefine gender roles in society; provide policies that nurture and prepare women for positions of power and businesses should design a workplace that works for everyone and ensure that women are getting a fair chance to progress in their career.” Phipps concluded.

‘The Workforce View in Europe 2019’ report explores the attitudes of employees toward the future of work. The research for ADP was carried out by independent market research agency Opinion Matters in October 2018. The sample consisted of 10,585 working adults in eight territories across Europe, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

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